Luggage construction



March 1955 w. H. ARLITT, JR

LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 12, 19 54 I Z7 za Il X5 I INVENTOR WHJYrZiZZg/ BY 1 W ATTORNEYS United States Patent LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION William H. Arlitt, In, San Antonio, Tex.

Application January 12, 1954, Serial No. 403,583

1 Claim. (Cl. 190-28) This invention relates to luggage construction and has as its primary object the provision of an improved construction for luggage, such as suitcases, trunks, or the like, wherein the cover of the luggage is provided with a metal trim or valance so positioned as to completely hide the tacks or nails utilized in the normal assembly of the case.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a valance provided with a reverted or crimped edge adapted to hold the lower rim of the covering material and form the trim for the lower edge of the lid for the case.

Still other objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a suitcase, or similar article, constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a perspective view disclosing the valance as tacked or secured to the reinforcing rib or frame of the top of the suitcase.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated at a suitcase, or similar article of luggage, comprising a body portion 11 and a lid or cover 12. The body portion is provided on its top edge with the conventional locks 13 carried by the conventional leaves 14 hinged, as at 15, to supporting bracket members 16 carried by the lid 12.

A carrying handle 17 of conventional design is also provided.

Referring now particularly to Figure 2, the lid construction of the instant invention includes a top portion comprised of an inner body 18 having formed therewith adepending flange 19 which is formed adjacent its lower edge with an inwardly extending shoulder 20, depending portion 21, and an outwardly extending lower lip 22.

Portions 20, 21, and 22 form a seat for a reinforcing member or rib 23, through which extends a bolt 24 for securing the bracket 16 securely thereto. The suitcase 2,704,140 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 also includes a relatively rigid covering member 25 over top 18, and a corresponding depending flange or face plate 26 which extends downwardly between brackets 16 and rib 23.

The intersecting edges of covering portions 25 and 26 are reinforced in the customary manner, as by a welt 27 suitably stitched through members 26 and 19, and portions 25 and 18, as indicated at 28.

A feature of the instant invention comprises a metal ,valance 30 which is directly secured to rib 23 by tacks or nails 31. The lower edge of valance 30 includes a reverted marginal rim or lip 32 formed to provide a bight 33 at the marginal rim of the valance. The lower extremity of covering flange or face plate 26, indicated at 34, normally seats in the bight 33 so that the lower reverted portion of valance 30 serves as a marginal rim and reinforcing member for the lid of cover 12 of the article of luggage.

Similarly, since the outer covering flange or face plate 26 extends the full distance from the bight 33 of the valance to its intersection with top cover 25, the heads of nails or tacks 31 are completely concealed, thus affording a strong construction, and one which is pleasing to the eye.

As best shown in Figure 2, rib 23 is of slightly less width than the depth of the recess formed by portions 20, 21 and 22, so that valance 30 extends in flush relationship with the outer side of the inner flange 19.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved luggage construction of great strength, which completely hides the securing means for the valance material, thus providing a more attractive article, and which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be taken merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

In a luggage construction, a receptacle, a lid hinged to said receptacle, a flange depending from the top edge of said lid, said flange having a U-shaped recess formed in the lower portion thereof, a reinforcing rib seated in said recess, a metal valance secured to the outer face of said rib with said valance and the upper portion of said flange lying in the same plane, nails securing said valance to said rib, an outwardly reverted lip on the bottom edge of said valance forming a reinforcement for the lower edge of said valance, and a face plate secured at its upper portion to the upper portion of said flange seated at its lower end in the reverted lip of said valance and covering said rib, nails and flange completely.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 182,907 Dunham Oct. 3, 1876 860,807 Kahlow July 23, 1907 2,184,848 Platt et a1. Dec. 26, 1939 2,228,907 Clark Jan. 14, 1941 

